In the fast-paced world of technology, we have long dreamed of a true smart assistant that can take the reins and complete tasks on our behalf without requiring constant manual intervention. Today, this dream appears to be coming true thanks to the Gemini task automation feature from Google. We had the opportunity to test this innovative feature on the latest flagship phones, specifically the Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the experience was full of fascinating contrasts between noticeable sluggishness and intense fascination.
Testing Gemini: noticeable slowness and unbelievable fascination
For the first time, Gemini allows artificial intelligence to take the wheel and use applications on your behalf completely. While this might sound familiar in sci-fi movies, it has become a tangible reality in our hands. During testing, ordering dinner took about nine full minutes, which is much longer than it would take any average user to perform the same task. The feature currently suffers from slowness, can sometimes be annoying, and does not necessarily solve a real or intractable problem you were facing while using your smartphone.
However, frankly speaking, it is an extremely dazzling experience. I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say this feature represents a true glimpse into the future. We are still a long way from perfection, but this is the first time we have seen a real AI assistant actually working on a smartphone, rather than just an impressive presentation at a conference or a heavily controlled demo inside a boardroom.
Current limitations and beta testing phase
The Gemini task automation feature is currently limited to a small, specific set of apps. It works primarily with a few food delivery services and ridesharing apps like Uber. This technology is still in the experimental phase, which explains some performance shortcomings and delayed responses.
- Limited speed: The smart assistant is much slower than your personal ability to interact quickly with apps.
- Supported apps: The feature currently works with a very limited number of services and digital platforms.
- Reliability: You may sometimes need human intervention to correct the task’s path or confirm certain options.
Comparing human performance and artificial intelligence
The first point to clarify is that Gemini is much slower than you, me, or almost anyone else at using a mobile phone. If you urgently need to order a car at this exact moment, you are still the best person to get that task done faster. But before you completely write off this feature as useless, remember that task automation is fundamentally designed to free you from direct screen interaction when you are busy or unable to use your hands.
«It may be slow and annoying at times, but it gives you a real feeling that you are living in the future and interacting with it.»
The idea that a phone can understand context, open the appropriate app, search for food options or a destination, and then complete the order on your behalf represents a qualitative leap in how we interact with our devices. It is a fundamental shift from using touch screens to relying on voice commands and intent.
From text generation to taking actual actions
For a long time, the primary focus of generative AI models has been on drafting text, creating images, summarizing articles, and answering general inquiries. However, the next logical step in this technological evolution is transitioning from merely providing knowledge to taking direct action. This is where the importance of what Gemini offers in this unique experiment comes to the fore.
When you ask the smart assistant to perform a task, it doesn’t just look up information and tell you about it; it actually opens the apps on your behalf, taps the correct buttons, and navigates through menus as if a real person were holding the phone. This mechanism, known as AI interaction with the user interface, is one of the most complex technical challenges today. Although current performance is not perfect, simply seeing the cursor move and pages change automatically is dazzling.
A futuristic vision for smartphones
What we are witnessing today on devices like the Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra is just the beginning. In the near future, with the evolution of large language models and increased on-device processing capabilities, these processes will become much faster and smoother.
We will soon move past the 9-minute wait to order dinner, and we may reach a point where the smart assistant anticipates your needs and completes complex tasks that require jumping between several different apps in mere seconds. The ability to turn human intent into tangible actions within the operating system environment opens the door to a new era of personal technology.
In conclusion, while the current generation of this technology has some clear flaws, it successfully proves the concept definitively. Technology we once thought was out of reach is beginning to appear on our phones, and it is only a matter of time before this automation becomes an integral part of our daily lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gemini task automation feature?
It is a new artificial intelligence feature that allows the Gemini assistant to take the reins and use apps on your phone on your behalf, such as ordering food or booking cabs without manual intervention from you.
Is the task automation feature fast and practical right now?
The feature is still in its experimental phase and suffers from noticeable slowness, with ordering dinner taking about nine minutes in one of the tests—much longer than a user performing the task themselves.
Which phones support this experience?
The feature was primarily tested on the latest flagship and upcoming phones from Google and Samsung, specifically the Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
